Qatar vs Ecuador – Group Stage – Preview & Prediction | 2022 FIFA World Cup
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THE FACTS
When is Qatar vs Ecuador on and what time does it start? Qatar vs Ecuador will take place on Sunday 20th November, 2022 – 16:00 (UK)
Where is Qatar vs Ecuador taking place? Qatar vs Ecuador will take place at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar
Where can I get tickets for Qatar vs Ecuador? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Qatar vs Ecuador
What channel is Qatar vs Ecuador on in the UK? Qatar vs Ecuador will be televised live on BBC
Where can I stream Qatar vs Ecuador in the UK? Qatar vs Ecuador can be streamed live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app
THE LOWDOWN
QATAR
- Tournament hosts Qatar make history here, opening up the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Al Khor as they take to the pitch for what will be their first ever World Cup fixture.
- They finished third-place in the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup, losing to Algeria in the semi-finals before beating Egypt on penalties in the third-place play-off.
ECUADOR
- The 2022 FIFA World Cup will be Ecuador’s fourth appearance at the tournament, although only once before have they qualified out of the group stage, that being back in 2006.
- Their most recent major international tournament saw them reach the quarter-finals of the 2021 Copa America, before losing 3-0 to eventual tournament winners Argentina
THE TEAM NEWS
QATAR
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Al Sheeb; Al Rawi, Khoukh, A. Hassan; Mohammad, Hatem, Boudiaf, Al Haydos, Ahmed; A. Ali, Afif
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
ECUADOR
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Dominguez; Preciado, Torres, Hincapie, Estupinan; Caicedo, Gruezo, Franco; Mena, Valencia, Ibarra
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Castillo (Fitness)
THE KEY STATS
- Gustavo Alfaro is the oldest coach for Ecuador at a FIFA World Cup, he will be 60 years and 98 days old at the start of the tournament, the previous oldest was Reinaldo Rueda at 57y 70d vs France (25/06/2014)
- Qatar defeated Ecuador 4-3 in the only previous meeting between these two nations in a friendly encounter in Doha in October 2018. Almoez Ali found the net twice for the hosts while Ecuador’s Enner Valencia also scored two goals in the seven-goal thriller
- The host nation has never lost their opening match in any of the previous 21 editions of the FIFA World Cup (W16 D6 – NB: there were two hosts in 2002)
- The last time a host nation failed to score in their opening match at a FIFA World Cup was in 1970 (Mexico 0-0 Soviet Union)
- Only one host nation has ever failed to advance past the first round at the FIFA World Cup (South Africa in 2010)
- Qatar won all three of their group stage matches at the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup in November/December 2021
- Only one of Ecuador’s ten matches at the finals has finished level (W4 L5). This was their most recent fixture, a 0-0 draw against France in their final group match at Brazil 2014
- Enner Valencia scored all of Ecuador’s three goals on their last FIFA World Cup appearance in 2014. He is their joint top-scorer at the tournament with Agustin Delgado who scored two goals in 2006 and one in 2002
- Alexander Dominguez, Carlos Gruezo and Enner Valencia are the only players in Ecuador’s squad who have featured at the FIFA World Cup previously. All three played for the nation in 2014
- Ecuador have lost only one of their last 15 international matches (W5 D9)
- Ecuador have not conceded a goal in their last six international matches
- Ecuador have drawn eight of their last 11 international matches
- Ecuador have never previously faced a team representing the AFC at the FIFA World Cup
THE PREDICTION
Qatar will be desperate to make a good impression on their World Cup debut as a footballing nation. The hosts will likely see this game is eminently winnable, but Ecuador are not to be underestimated. They combine experience through the likes of Enner Valencia with exciting young talents such as Brighton duo Moises Caicedo and Pervis Estupinan. Whilst Qatar are expected to try and take the game to Ecuador in their search for a historic victory on home turf, this may see them exposed defensively as Ecuador contain the capability to take advantage of any extra space afforded to them inside the opposition half. With that in mind, backing both teams to score has to be favoured regardless of who comes out on top in this opening match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
